Regal pelargonium plant named ‘Fascination’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct regal Pelargonium having rose pink flowers with deep burgundy upper petals and a scarlet eye on the lower petals with a white center above a mound of medium green foliage. The new cultivar has improved cutting production, rooting speed, and branching and earlier flowering time than ‘Fantasy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This discovery relates to a new and distinct cultivar of regalPelargonium (Pelargonium×domesticum) identified by the name of‘Fascination’, Breeder No. 93-11-4 and Oglevee, Ltd. No. 978. Thecultivar was discovered in an organized, scientifically designedbreeding program conducted at the Department of Horticulture, ThePennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. The new cultivar isthe offspring of two unpatented breeding cultivars, Breeder Nos. 87-92-1(female) and 90-12-5 (male). The floral color and flowering time aresimilar to the seed parent. The new cultivar's plant habit is not quiteas compact as either parent. The purpose of the breeding program was tocreate new regal Pelargonium genotypes with clear, bright flower colors,excellent propagation characteristics, compact growth habit, predictableand consistent flowering response and good postharvest quality. The newcultivar was produced from prior selections developed at ThePennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. since 1977. Thepedigree of this cultivar includes the patented cultivars ‘Splendor’ and‘Fantasy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. Nos. 7,656 and 7,538, respectively) and otherunpatented cultivars as shown in FIG. 2.

The selection was first asexually propagated by cuttings at ThePennsylvania State University and subsequently at Oglevee, Ltd., 152Oglevee Lane, Connellsville, Pa. The new cultivar reproduces true andbeen found to retain its characteristics through successive generations.

The new cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa.using full light, 60° F. night temperature, 68° F. day temperature andgrown in a soilless media with constant fertilizer at 150-200 ppmnitrogen and potassium, has a response time from a rooted cutting to aflowering plant in a 6 inch pot of fourteen weeks. Rooted cuttingspotted Oct. 15, 1997 flowered on Feb. 9, 1998.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of the pedigree of the new cultivar. Colorsdepicted in FIG. 1 are as nearly true as is possible with a colorillustration of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed descriptions set forth the characteristics of thenew cultivar. The data which define these characteristics were collectedfrom asexual reproductions carried out in Connellsville, Pa. The colorreadings on a plants grown in a 5 inch pot were taken indoors under200-220 foot candles of cool white fluorescent light. Color referencesare primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London. The data was taken from plants 14 weeks old.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.—Pelargonium×domesticum.

Varietal.—Regal Pelargonium named ‘Fascination’.

Form: Medium mound.

Height: 28.0-30.0 cm from soil to top of foliage; 36-40 cm from the soilline to the top of the umbels.

Growth: Medium mound habit with free basal branching; continuousflowering.

Strength: No artificial support needed.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment.

Leaves:

Size.—7.9-8.3 cm across.

Shape.—Reniform, truncate base; 7-8.5 cm in length.

Margin.—Serrated, slightly lobed.

Texture.—Leathery, pubescent.

Color.—Top: Green Group 137C. Bottom: Green Group 138B. Zone: None.

Ribs and veins.—Venation: Palmate. Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Petioles:

Length.—6.0-8.0 cm.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Stem:

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Length.—6-8 cm.

Internode length.—1.5-2.0 cm.

Roots.—Time to develop: 14-21 days. Description: Fibrous.

THE BUD

Shape: Elliptical cluster; individual bud is elliptical.

Size of umbel: 5.0-5.6 cm across.

Size of bud: 2.5-3.0 cm long and 1.1 cm wide when just showing color.

Color: Yellow-Green Group 146C.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Large flowers forming full flower heads.

Borne: Umbel flowers on pedicel, pedicel on peduncle.

Flowers:

Number of flowers per umbel.—4-8.

Umbel depth.—7.0-8.0 cm.

Flower depth.—2.0-3.0 cm.

Open flowers:

Form.—Open to slightly cupped; petals overlap, edges ruffled.

Size of fully open bloom.—Umbels: 13.5-14.5 cm across. Flowers: 4.5-5.0cm across.

Color.—Top: Upper two petals are White Group 155C at center with veiningof Red-Purple Group 64A shading to Greyed-Purple Group 187A then to RedGroup 53C with the edge being Red-Purple Group 68D. Lower three petalsare White Group 155C at center shading to Red Group 55A then shading toRed-Purple Group 68D at the edge. Bottom: Red Group 65D with veining andeye showing through. Eye: Red Group 52A on upper side of all lowerpetals.

Petals.—5.

Overall shape.—Elliptical.

Apex shape.—Obovate.

Base shape.—Acute.

Size.—4.5 cm long; 3.5-4.5 cm wide.

Texture and appearance.—Two upper petals appear velvety; appears from adistance as a rose pink/burgundy bi-color flower with prominent eyes onthe lower three petals above medium green foliage.

Petaloids: None.

Sepal:

Size.—1.0 cm long; 0.5 cm wide.

Apex shape.—Acuminate.

Base shape.—Truncate.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.

Pedicel:

Length.—2.0-3.0 cm.

Color.—Greyed-Purple Group 185A over Yellow-Green Group 146C at base offloret with rest of pedicel being Yellow-Green Group 146C.

Peduncle:

Length.—6.0-8.5 cm.

Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146B.

Disease resistance: None observed.

Lasting quality: Flowers last for 14 to 21 days in the home environmentunder natural or artificial light.

Natural flowering season: Spring.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Anthers.—4.0 mm long.

Filaments.—Length: 1.2-1.9 cm. Color: White.

Pollen.—Plentiful.

Pollen color.—Golden Orange.

Pistil:

Number.—1; five parted.

Length.—2.5 cm.

Stigma color.—Greyed-Purple Group 187B.

Style.—2.0 cm long.

Ovaries.—Pale green; 6.0 mm long.

Fruit: None observed.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Rose pink flowers with deep burgundy upper petals and a scarlet eye onthe lower petals with a white center above a mound of medium greenfoliage. Cutting production, rooting speed, improved branching andearlier flowering time are the improvements over the current marketvariety ‘Fantasy’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,538.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of regal Pelargonium plantnamed ‘Fascination’ substantially as described and illustrated herein.